Crowd unit for horizontal loaders



March 17, 1953 l.. E. SMITH OROwO UNIT FOR HORIZONTAL LOADERs 5 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Jan. 17. 134s ....Luusnql NRON LUKE E. .SM/TH! INVENTOR.

A TTORNEY L. E. SMITH CROWD UNIT FOR HORIZONTAL LOADERS March 17, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 17. 1948 INVENTOR'.

LUKE ESM/TH A TTORNEY March 17, 1953 Filed Jan. 17, 1948 1 E. SMITH 2,631,744

cRowD UNIT FOR HORIZONTAL LoADERs 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 LUKE E. SMITH INVENTOR.

BY/xm A TTORN E Y L. E. SMITH CROWD UNIT FOR HORIZONTAL LOADERS March 17, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. 17. 1948 Nw Nm mw.

LUKE ESM/7TH INVENTOR.

BY y

A 7'7'0 RNE Y L. E. SMITH CROWD UNIT FOR HORIZONTAL LOADERS March 17, 1953 -5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan. 17, 1948 lwwuLluuLwWnlnmmmL A...

LUKE E. SMITH `INVENTOR.

A T TOR/VE Y Patented Mar. 17, 1953 UNITED STAT ES PATENT OFFICE Luhe" E". (Smith,4 Denver; Colo.,. assigner to Quick'-n Wayv Truck Shovel Co., Denver; Colo., a crpo= ration of Colorado Application January'l'l, 1948;'v Serial No. 2,899/

7 Claims'. l,

The present invention relates to a crowduni-t for horizontal loader. It has to do particularly,v although not exclusively,v with power-operated preferably horizontal loaders or crowds capable of being projected and retracted to handle and moveor crowd earth, stone, and variousv other materials, without requiring the forward movement of the vehicle to which it is attached during the crowdingoperation.

One off the objects off4 the presentinvention is to provide an improved substantially horizontal loader unit whose scoop or bucket, or the like, and associated parts, as well as thepower. means and power-operatedr drum means for operating the unit, canbe rotated relative tothe vehicle bywhichit is supportedY and transported, through 360.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved horizontal loader or crowdassembly or unit which is substituted. for. or replaces the usual or conventional boom and stick of. a more or less conventional power shovel.

A further object of Vthe present invention is to provide an improved loader or crowd of the fore-l going character inwhichthe bucket or scoopmay be projected and/or. retracted in :a substantially horizontal plane. l

Another and important object of4 the present invention is to provide an improved loader or crowdunit or assembly which is4 capable'of being rotatedin.. a` complete circle, while being. also capable of being projected and retracted at any of its positions within the circle, and one which may be mounted upon an ordinary motor truck chassis having, if desired, merely a one-man size cab or compartment.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved horizontal loader or crowd unit or assembly wherein manual meansfispro-`z vided for releasing the. bucket or scoop; wherein power-operated means' isA provided for lifting, the'- bucket'or scoop to again latch' it in positioma'nd: wherein thei last-named means. for lifting and: thus. re-latching the bucket serves to* retract the..- previouslyprojected sticks. or other members off the loader or crowd carrying'the'scoop orrbucket:

A further object of the present invention is"A to provide an improved horizontal loaderA or crowdz capable. of beingl operated byA power' means' andv power-driven drums. mounted for rotationa uponl a `self-propelled. or other`vehicle and. cable-.means connect-ing, the loader unit-and' drums;for"projecting twin sticksl or the like; members out of hollownoneprojectable; frame members;` to torcey a scoop or bucket into a pile or material; separate cable meansy for retracti'ng' the twin sticks; or the like members, which separate means also serves tov lift and thus re-latch the scoop or bucket; separate power-driven drum and' cable' means for raising and/or lowering the entire loader or crowd assembly asa unit and includ# ing. the bucket;l and manually" or mechanically controlled bucket.

The foregoing andr other objects and advantages off the present invention will appear from the following description and appended. claims when. considered in connection withy the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specilication wherein like reference characters de'sig` nate corresponding parts in the several views.

nsaid drawings:

Fig. lis a side elevational view illustrat'ingpa'rticularly the power-operating means for manipulatingv the loader or crowd assembly or unit ofthe present invention, being shown as mounted upon the chassis ofa motor truck.

Fig.. 2. is a top plan view of the structure shown l in Fig. 1'.

Figi. 3'A isfan enlarged fragmentary detail, parts being broken away to indicate lengthyof one form of horizontal' loader or crowd assembly embodying the present invention.

Fig. 4 is a top plan View ofA and corresponding. tothefstructure shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is ai somewhat enlarged sectional elevati'on.. partly in. elevation, taken substantially along the line 5-5 of. Fig. 3', looking in the d'irecti'onfoffthe arrows.

Fig.-6 is a fragmentary side elevational view, partlyrbroken away, of the scoop or bucket of Figs. 3 and fl, showing the same in itsreleasedor down position.

Fig..."iA isa' view similar to Fig. 4 and also partly.

broken.. awayf of a somewhat modified form of loader or crowd. unit or assembly embodying the present invention.

Fig. 8 is a side elevationalview ofthe structure shownin Fig. 7i.. l

Fig.y 9is a View.- simiar to Fig. 1*,.but showing theAv modified form of loader or crowd assembly of Figs; 7. and 8,.with the assembly-in. an elevated position andY K Fig.- l0. is anenlarged detail elevation taken. substantially along the vstaggered line m-Ill oi". Fig. 8.. look-ing` in the direction of the arrows..

Referring. Vnow-- particularly to Figsv 1 to 6,. in clusiva. of ther drawings.; there isl shownin these figures one-formi ofv loader orcrowdl assembly or unit embodying the present invention. s best means for releasing'v the latchedfv seen in Figs. 1 and 2, the loader or crowd unit is mounted upon the platform P of a pick-up or tractor type of motor truck, shown as a whole at T. The front end of the truck is not shown, and only a fragment of the drivers cab C is illustrated in the partially phantom views of Figs. 1 and 2. The cab C, as shown, is of the one-man type.

The structure which carries the horizontal loader or crowd unit or assembly of the present form of the invention comprises, preferably, a compartment or enclosure Il having a base or bottom l2 and a sub-base i3. An annular gear and turntable i4 are carried beneath the subbase i3 and in turn, are mounted for rotation upon the platform P of the truck. The base or bottom l2 carries an engine or power plant, shown as a whole at if, and including a suitable transmission and suitable gearing, shown as a whole at i6, and provided for the purpose of rotating or driving several power drums in either clockwise or counter-clockwise directions. The turntable it with its annular rack or series of external teeth is xed to and adapted to rotate with the base portions l2 and I3 and the compartment Il and is turned or revolved by means of a powerdriven shaft il. Shaft Vi carries a pinion I8 at its lower end which is in mesh with the annular rack of member ld. It will be seen that by driving shaft il' and thus pinion i8, the entire compartment li and its contents will be rotated or revolved about a shaft i9 (see Fig. 2) which provides the vertical axis for the turntable I4, this movement being, of course, relative to the truck by which it is supported.

As will be seen hereinafter, the structure Il, i2, i3 carries a rack-type crowd assembly with a shovel or scoop and associated parts in accordance with the present form of the invention, all of which are revolved or rotated as if they were a single unit. In this connection, and by reason of the fact that a one-man capacity cab C is employed, as shown, the crowd and its associated parts can be rotated or revolved in nearly a complete circle while remaining in its lowered position, as seen in Fig. l. rThe rotation may be completed throughout 360 by merely elevating the crowd unit to a position corresponding, for example, to that in which the modified crowd unit of Fig. 9 is shown.

There is shown as a whole at 20, a power-driven drum which is adapted to wind and unwind suitable cable to raise and/or lower the component parts of the crowd unit or assembly. The drum 2li has associated with it suitable clutches or clutching mechanism (not shown) which may be of conventional type and which serve to rotate drum in the desired direction.

In addition to the drum 20, there is provided a pair of power drums 2l and 22 which, as shown, are smaller than the drum 22. The drums 2l and 22 are provided with suitable clutches of conventional nature (not shown) which permit them to be driven in either a clockwise or a counter-clockwise direction, as desired. As will be explained more fully below, the smaller drum 2i is provided primarily for the purpose of projecting or extending that portion or section of the horizontal loader or crowd unit which carries scoop B outwardly away from the compartment or enclosure il, whereas the other Smaller drum 22 is provided to perform the dual function of lifting and thus re-latching the bucket or scoop and of retracting the previously projected or extended portion of the loader or crowd unit.

In addition to the gearing I6 which serves to connect the power plant l5 with the drums 20, 2i and 22, the extended shafts of the several drums are also provided with suitable gearing which may be seen in Figs. l and 2, and which is of conventional nature and conventionally and .operatively connected with the parts of the clutches and the drums so that the mechanism will perform the necessary and desired functions. It is to be understood that when the operator desires, he manipulates a control lever or handle (not shown) to bring into motion the proper gearing, shafts, clutch assembly or assemblies and drum or drums to perform the operation or operations which it is desired be performed. In this respect, the operation is generally similar to that of a conventional power shovel, wherein the operator is located within the compartment or machinery enclosure of the shovel and is thus enabled to handle the controls for the various parts of the mechanism.

It is not thought necessary herein to describe in detail the particular clutches or clutch mechanism employed, nor the gearing indicated generally at i3 and which is associated with the power plant i5 and the power drums 2), 2l and 22, for the reason that this gearing is of Conventional nature and will be varied in accordance with the type or work to be performed by the loader or crowd. The clutches or clutching elements are likewise of conventional nature and any type of well-known clutch mechanism and associated parts may be employed.

In accordance with the present invention, the power drums, the clutches, and the power plant or engine l5 are associated one with the other in a manner which permits the desired handling of the new and improved horizontal loader or crowd unit embodying the present invention, and now to be described.

As best Seen in Fig. 2, the base portions l2 and i3 of the compartment li carry brackets 23 which serve to support, for up and down swinging movement, the loader or crowd unit or assembly of the present invention.

This unit comprises, as shown, a substantially U-shaped frame 25 consisting of longitudinally extending spaced substantially parallel hollow members 26, 28. Extending outwardly beyond a cross bar 29 connecting members 26, 26 are brackets or extensions 2li, 2l, which t between and swingably connect with the two pairs of brackets 23, being held to said brackets by means of removable pins 23, see particularly Figs. 3 and 4. The members 26 are preferably of square or rectangular cross section and, as shown, are hollow, see particularly Fig. 5. The cross bar or meinber 29 carries upon its upper surface a pulley bracket 30 which rotatably supports a pulley or sheave 3 l see Figs. 3 and fi.

The U-shaped frame comprising the hollow members 26 and 27, provides means for supporting, so as to be projected outwardly and moved or retracted inwardly longitudinally with relation to said hollow members, a pair of spaced preferably parallel sticks or longitudinal bars 32, 32 which are telescoped within the members 26. The upper longitudinal edges or surfaces of said sticks are toothed to provide racks 33, 33, see Fig. 3. The forward or outer ends of the stick members 32 are preferably connected together by a cross bar or frame portion 34 which has at its opposite ends outwardly projecting portions or ears 35, 35. The projections provide spaced brackets for the mounting of a scoop or accion.

bucket, such as that Shown at B. 'Ihebuckety B, see `particularly Fig. 4, is provided at itsrear portion with two spaced pairsY offears or extensionsI 36, 36 whichY are adapted to embrace the forward extensions 315 of the'- rackedf sticks and to beheld to the crowd; unit by' meansI of removable' pivot-pins 3T, Si?. By so connecting the bucketwith the unit; it is permitted tohave ullv and down swinging movement' relative to said crowd unit'.

As' best seeninFig. 3, the' inner ends of' the stick members 372 are provided with uptu-rned` portions 32a; 32o; which are adapted toen'gage iiXed stops such; for` example, as the stops Z-'Eu is` rotatably'mounted in and carried' by aA bracket like' bearing` 38V which, is attached to the under si'deY of a hollow' memberY 26; projecting upward'lS7 to openings in the' members 26 and provide sup-Y portings for the' stick' members' 32. As clearly l seen in Fig: 5 ofthe drawings, the rollers` 39 are iianged" at 39a andv thus provide` mean-s for maintaining and guiding the stickr members 32 in a straight line path' when`- being projected or retracted relative to the housing. members'y 26.

Moreover, these pairs ofJ supporting and guidingr rollers 39" permit easier or freer movement ofthe sticks 32 by reducingfriction.

As best. seen in. Figs; 3" and 6, the bucket' B is provided with, a: 'xed hook-like memberor catch. 40. The transverse or cross frame' member 34 carries anl upwardly and outwardly eX- tending member or bracket 4l which is provided" with a manually' controlledl latch member. shown as a whole at 4'2'; Latch t2 has-an upwardly extending arm 42a and a hook-like; Catchengaging member or. portion4 42h; The latch member includes a` hub portion 42e mounted upon a shaft 42d which is journalled in the bracket M'. An offset arm' or projection d20 provides means for` holding one end off a coil spring M' whose oppositev end is fastened' at t5 to the bracket 4i.. The purpose of the torsion spring 4'4 is to maintain the nose 42h of the latchin its normal'. down position, as shown in' Figs. 13. and' 6. A bucketelevated' to its position of.' use, thev latch When in this position, with the 42i engages the catch 40 and) holds the bucket-.

inthat position. In Fig. 6;,the bucket has been v released' by the. operator. ofthe machine who has pulled. the handle 4T ofi a" rope 0r cable 46 whose outer or forward end. is attached" to the' latcharm 42a. To release: the parts 42' and 4t, the. cable. 4E is pullediihwardly to rotate the hub portion 4`2`c ofthe. catch on thev pivot Din 42d against. the. action of. the torsion spring` 4'4'. By

The pair of" transversely" spacedx bearings orL 6l journals lll carryy av shaftr 52l uponwhichav flangedv drum or power pulleyv 531 is lxedly mounted. The opposite end portions ofv the shaft 52 carry gears 541 each' of which projects downwardly through a slot or opening formed. in the top wall or surface of each of the mem'- bers- 26 so that the teeth ofthe gear will mesh with the teeth 33 of the rack on stick 32;

Each of the bearings or journals 5t carries. agear 55l mounted upon a short shaft' 56. Each gear extends downwardlythrough a slot or opening formed in the upper wall of the hollow member 26 so that the teeth ofthe gear will also mesh with the teeth 33 on the sticks 32. The. gears- 55", 55 are idler gears and simply: mesh with theA racks to facilitatev the movement of the racks' longitudinally` in' opposite directions; TheyA do not, as shown', serve tov impartmove ment to said racks.

Thef'orward or outer ends of the hollow members 26, as` shown, areA connected together bya transverse bar or' cross member 57 which carries apair of' spaced upright members or standards 58 between which there is disposed a roller 59 rotatably mounted on a shaft' Si! whose opposite ends are supported by the members-58. Mounted above the roller 59' and supported by a pair of' upright arms 6l, 6i, is a pulley or sheave 63' carriedIv by and' freely` rotatable on a shaft 5?! which is supported? by the members 51|', see Fiss. 3 and 5.

in Figs. 1`r and 2 the parts of' the horizontal loader or crowd unit are shown in a partially extended o1' proiectedvv position of use, with the'y scoop or bucket B in its raised andlatched posi^ tion and in readiness to be' moved or` powerprojected into engagement' with material' tol be"` handled by the machine. The entire unit.' as shown, comprises the hollowA substantially U`- shaped frame portion 25 andthe projectable frame portion including the' racked sticks 32, to-

gether with the scoop B. All ofthese parts mayv bel raised and/'orlowered' with relation to the ground surface, with the' entire unit and' the scoop thereof swinging about the two pivots or pin connections` 28; 28. To permit thisiraising and loweringof the'entireunit', one endv of: a cable165- carries a clampv 65 which' is fastened' to' the shaft'v passes to the power-driven drumY 20. When the power-planter engine' l5 is operated" and the drumv 25' drivenI in a`l counterclo'ckwise' direction', the entire loader'or.l crowd and-the scoop are elevated as a unit. Byreversing1r the: clutch (noti shown).

which operates'in coniunction withy drumll', the

drum may berotatedin the'opposite or clockwise direction to-lower^thefcrowd unit. In its' elevated' position, thecrowdunit and its scoop or bucket.

wouldfbe-positionedat an anglegener-ally similar tothe angle of these membersas shown in .Fig.,9 of the accompanyingV drawingswherein a modification of the present invention is. shown.

As win be understood; the rackedsucks 32', 32

are power-proiect'ed out of their telescoped relationshipwith the'ho'llow` members .26v of the substantially U-shaped frame of tl'ie crowd unitI and this isv accomplishedV preferablyv by driving the shaft or axle 52 to rotatethe gears' 54 carried thereby in a counterclockwise direction which will" force' or move'` the-*members 32` outwardly or forwardly away from the supporting vehicle or truck T. To accomplish this outward movement or projection, the shaft or axle 52 carries the xedly-mounted drum 53 to which the end of a cable '10 is attached. This cable extends rearwardly to and is connected with the power drum 2|. When the proper clutch mechanism (not shown) is shifted by the operator to drivingly connect the drive gearing with the engine I5, the drum 2| will be rotated in a counterclockwise direction to also rotate the drum 53 and the shaft or axle 52 in the same direction, thus causing counterclockwise rotation of the gears 5d to shift the pair of sticks 32, 32 outwardly to project the bucket or scoop B into the desired material-handling position. It is to be understood that a considerable length of the cable 1I) has been wound around and secured to the drum 53 with the sticks 32, 32 in their retracted position within the hollow members 26. Thus, when the power drum 2| is operated in a counterclockwise direction, this length of cable around drum 53 will be unwound to cause the projection of the sticks 32 and the simultaneous outward movement of the scoop or bucket B.

When it is desired to retract the sticks 32 to their telescoped positions within the socket members 25, the power drum 2'2 (see Fig. 2) is driven in a counterclockwise direction to draw in and wind a cable 12 Whose outer end is connected'at 1| to the bucket or scoop B.

This cable 12 runs over an idler pulley or sheave 59 and under the idler pulley or sheave 3 I, see Figs. 1 and 3. When the reti-acting operation of the sticks and bucket is started, counterclockwise rotation of drum 22 will cause bucket B, through cable 12, to swing upwardly about its pivotal connections 31 to its elevated and latched position. Continued counterclockwise rotation of the drum 22 and shifting of cable 12 will move the sticks32 and the scoop B inwardly until said sticks are telescope-d within the hollow members or sockets 28 of the inner portion or section of the crowd unit. During the retracting movement, the drum 2| will be driven or rotated in a clockwise direction to permit the cable to be rewound upon drum 53 which is being rotated in a clockwise direction by virtue of the inward movement of the racks 33 in mesh with the gears 54.

While the particular clutch or clutches and associated parts of the control mechanism located within the compartment II are not shown and described in detail herein, it is to be understood that suitable mechanism, and control means or members for said mechanism, are provided to performv the functions required to project and retract, the sticks 32 of the unit and to raise and/or lower the entire loader Vor crowd unit about its supporting pivot pins or members 28.

As stated above, the entire crowd unit is capable of being swung in av complete circle. This may be accomplished when the crowd is in its substantially horizontal or lowered position, as seen in Fig. 1, or when it is in an elevated position, in accordance with the showing of the modified form of the present invention which appears in Fig. 9 of the drawings. This swinging of the unit of the present form is accomplished by driving or rotating the pinion I8 carried by the upright shaft I1 which pinion is in engagement with the ring gear I4, see Fig. 1.

In Figs. 7, 8, 9 and 10 of the drawings, there is shown a somewhat modified form of horizontal loader or crowd unit or assembly embodying the present invention.

As in the preceding form of the present invention, the modified form shown in Figs. 7 to 10, inclusive, also includes a two-part horizontal loader or crowd unit or assembly, one portion or section of which is mounted for swinging movement relative to the base or platform ||2, ||3, of the vehicle compartment III, with the other or outer portion or section carrying a scoop or bucket S and being telescoped with the first-named portion and also being capable of being projected and/or retracted with relation to the first-named portion of the crowd unit or assembly. In all respects as to the power mechanism within the compartment I| I and the arrangement of cables and pulleys or sheaves for raising and lowering the unit and for projecting and/or retracting the extensible section or portion of said unit, the parts in the present form are the same, or substantially the same, as those shown and described in connection with the previous form of the invention. In other words, the power-operating mechanism, including the various power drums, their clutches (not shown) and control means (not shown) are the same, or virtually the same, in the present modified form of the invention as in the previous form thereof.

The swingable or non-extensible portion of the crowd unit comprises a transverse frame member and two longitudinally extending preferably tubular members 8|, SI. The frame member 80 is provided with rearwardly or inwardly extending ears or projections 82 which are pivotally mounted at 83, 83 to bracket members 84, 84, which latter are secured, in suitable manner, to the base portions 2, IIS of compartment I||. The members 80, 8|, 8|, together provide a substantially U-shaped longitudinally extending frame.

The tubular members 8| are provided with stops 85, see particularly Fig. '1, for a purpose to be described below. The members 8| carry journal boxes or bearings 86, 86 which support the opposite ends of a transverse shaft 81. Shaft 81 carries a pulley or sheave 88. The forward end portions of members 8| support transverse upright plates 89, 89 which are held together by a web 90, see Fig. 8. As best seen in Fig. 10, the plates 89 are provided with a central opening 89a within Vwhich is journalled an idler roller 9| and a'relatively larger pulley or sheave 92 which is partially concealed by a combined guide and guard or housing 93. The lower ends of the plates 89 are shaped as shown at 89h in Fig. 10 so as to embrace and to be secured, as by Welding, to the tubular members 8|. The guide housing 93 carries a pair of inwardly or rearwardly extending bracket members 94, 94, which are adapted to receive an anchor member 95 carried by the adjacent end of a cable |20, as will be described below.

The extensible portion of the crowd unit or assembly comprises, preferably, a transversely extending frame member or cross bar 95 which is secured to the end portionsV of a pair of tubular members 91, 91 Awhich are telescoped within the external tubular members 8|, 8 I. The transverse frame member or cross bar 95 carries an inwardly or rearwardly extending tubular member 99 .which extends rearwardly toward the transverse frame member 80 and whose inner end is attached to a transversely extending brace member or bar |00. The outer ends of '.bar |00 `carry curved -plates .or feet 103|, .lill which engage the outer :surfaces .of ithe tubular members A8| @and vwhich are :capable of sliding longitudinally .on "the latten A cable anchor, or the like |2 is carried by the tubular memlber 99 adjacent lthe cross fb'ar .or brace ist). It will .be understood that Athe cross bar '96 and -the inside tubes 91, 95|, together Yprovide a U- shaped frame which .interiits with .the .U-shaped trame .consisting .of the members iii, 18|, `8| and which extends Lin the opposite direction. The extensible U-shaped frame also carries the tubular 4Inem'ber i919 and the cross bar or brace member |69. It will be understood that when the extensible frame is moved outwardly or toward the right in Figs. 7 and 8, this .outward movement will be stopped when the stop :members 85 of the outer tubular .members 8|, 8| are engaged bythe curved'members or feet lill, IGI, Acarried by the central tube 89 and which are .slidable .over the -exterior surfaces .oi the outer .tubes L8 l., .8L

As clearly seen in Figs. 7 andil, the cross `.frame member .95 is provided vwith a pair Yof forwardly extending .members or brackets 95a, 19t-a, which 4are .embraced vby pairs of ears or projections |03, |03 carried Aby the scoop or bucket Si, these parts being connected together by pivot pins Hill so that scoop S may be swung up and down.

The rear wal-l of the scoop is provided with a catch |65 which is engaged by a swingable latch assembly including a latch |06 mounted upon brackets |01 and having an upright arm |08 to which the end of an operating cable HB9 is secured. The latch member |06 is held normally in its lowered position by means of a spring |||l so that when the scoop or bucket S is swung up about its pivots |04, it will be automatically latched in its raised position. f

Cable I 09 is preferably controlled by a handle |9a located within the enclosure or compartment see Fig. 9.

The entire unit comprising the two opposed and telescoping U-shaped frames or sections,

and the scoop or bucket S are raised and/or lowered by the operator within the compartment He will set into operation, in a counterclockwise direction, the power drum 2E! which will wind a cable |20 whose outer end is an- .3.

chored by anchor member Q5 to bracket 94, with the cable extending rearwardly and passing over an idler pulley or sheave |2| and thence forwardly and around the pulley 92, thence rearwardly and over an idler pulley or sheave |22,

and then to the power drum 2d.

The extensible frame, comprising the members 96, Sl, Si, 59 and ilid, Iiil, is projected outwardly or forwardly by operating the power drum 2|. The power drum 2| has secured to it a cable |24 which extends outwardly from the drum 2| and passes over pulley 88 and thence inwardly or rearwardly to the anchor |ii2. When the cable |24 is wound by drum 2i, the anchor H32, being secured to the tubular member 99 adjacent the cross frame member Edil, will cause the extensible frame section of the cro-wd unit to be projected outwardly or forwardly with the inner tubular members 91 moving outwardly from within the outer tubular members or sockets 3 i. This occurs, of course, during the counter-clockwise rotation of the drum 2|. The outward movement of the tubular sticks 5l, 91 and their associated parts, will cause the scoop or bucket S to be forced or moved into contact with material to be handled l0 by-:said scoop. The outward projection is limited bythe contact of 4members '|01 on .the extensible frame portion of the :unit with the stop members 35 on the .non-extensible portion of said unit.

Whenit is desired to retract the tubular sticks 97 and their associated parts, a power drum 22, see Fig. '9, which corresponds to the power drum 22 of Fig. 2, is driven in a counter-clockwise direction. This .operation will cause the winding .onto said drum ofa .cable |26 whose outer end is attached at |2l to a lug |28 carried by the scoop A. rIfhe cable |26 travels over the idler roller 9| .and .under an idler pulley or sheave |30 carried by a .bracket |129 .mounted upon the cross frame member 8d. ^From idlerpulley |30, the .cable |26 extends to the drum 22.

It isto be noted that when drum 22 is so operated to wind in cable i26, the scoop S, if unlatched, 'and in 'down position, is rst elevated and automatically latched Continued winding of the vcable l2@ on drum 22 will move the proiected :frame portion cr section of the crowd unit Vinwardly to .return the tubular vsticks 91 to their retracted positions in which they are telescoped within theouter tubular members 8|. While the retraoting operation is being .performed by the .drum Y2d and its cable |26, it will be understood that suitable clutch mechanism (not shown) will be .shifted `by the operator to permitdrum 2| to simultaneously `unwind its cable |24 which 'had previously been wound upon the drum to project or extend the 'tubular sticks 91..

In Fig. 9, a vertical power-driven shaft Ill carrying a pinion |18 and a ring gear H4 are i provided to revolve the compartment `and its contents, the loader or crowd unit, and the scoop through 360", while the vehicle chassis or platform upon which the unit is mounted remains stationary. The parts provided for revolving the structure in a complete circle correspond tosimilar parts shown in Fig. l of the accompanying drawings.

From the foregoing it will be seen that both forms of horizontal loader or crowd mechanism disclosed in the accompanying drawings, function in substantially the same manner and by means of the provision of substantially the same kind of power plant and power-operated mechanism within the operators compartment or enclosure and by virtually the same arrangement of power-controlled cables and rollers, pulleys or sheaves over which said cables run.

It is to be understood that the two forms of crowd or horizontal loader mechanism herein disclosed are intended to supplant entirely the conventional boom and swinging bucket-stick of previously known conventional truck shovels.

While the foregoing invention has been described with reference to a truck shovel, it is to be understood that the invention can be used equally well in connection with other types of earth-working Vehicles having a power unit capable of driving the mechanism. For example, the invention is equally well adapted for use in connection with vehicles of the crawler type or the trailer type.

Wherever the terms inner and outer as applied to the boom sections, are used above and in the claims, it is to be understood that reference is being made to the parts or sections nearer to and farther from the base of the structure, respectively.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed is:

l. A horizontal crowd unit adapted to be swingably attached to a revolvable compartment containing a power unit and power-operated hoisting drums located above the platform of a vehicle, comprising -a pair of telescopic inner and outer sections, the outer section being proj ectable and retractable in a substantially straight line path relative to the inner section, a movable scoop carried by the outer section, a cable and sheave means connecting the crowd unit with Ione of the power-operated drums for raising and/orlowering the entire crowd unit relative to the compartment, separate cable and sheave means connecting said unit and another of said power-operated drums for projecting the outer section and scoop, and a cable and sheave means for retracting the projected section, said last-named means also serving to elevate the scoop from a lowered position to a latched elevated position.

2. A crowd unit according to claim 1, wherein the inner section has longitudinally extending hollow members and driving gears, and wherein the outer section has longitudinally extending stick members provided with racks meshing with said gears.

3. A horizontal crowd unit according to claim 1, wherein the inner and outer telescoping sections have longitudinally extending substantially parallel intertting tubular` members.

4. A horizontal crowd unit according to claim 3,

wherein the inner and outer sections have co- 00 operating stop means to prevent the projection of the outer section beyond a predetermined point with relation to the inner section.

5. A crowd unit according to claim 1, wherein the inner and outer sections are provided with st-op means for limiting the outward movement of the outer section with relation to the inner section.

6. A crowd unit according to claim 1, wherein scoop-latching means is provided to automatically lock the scoop when moved from a dumping position to an elevated position.

7. Structure according to claim 6, wherein said latching means is manually releasable.

LUKE E. SMITH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

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